Junior Staff

Since 1958 the Junior Staff program of Earthplace has been involving junior high and high school-aged children in in-depth natural history, natural resource conservation and community service projects.   Each year the program focuses on a different theme - reptiles, birds, mammals, insects and other invertebrates, plants, geology, physical geography and astronomy, and water.

For 2012-2013 our topic will be insects, including pests and helpful insects, insect anatomy, collecting and preserving insects and site surveys.

The Junior Staff meet most Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM throughout the school year, except for holidays.  Each Saturday there is a short organizational meeting, a lecture/lab session and a work project.  The lecture/lab session changes every week and can include microscope work, field projects, research, guest lecturers, anatomy and physiology with dissections, conservation issues, debates and keeping a nature journal.  A select number of interested children will also have the opportunity to learn about and help take care of some of the Earthplace animals. The work projects could be Earthplace trail maintenance, museum exhibit creation, program presentations, gardening or outside community service projects.  The Junior Staff also helps with Earthplace fundraisers and special events.  Occasional field trips are offered. 

Earthplace offers the Junior Staff career counseling and opportunities to develop work skills. Many of these children have participated and worked in our summer camp, children’s workshops or water-quality monitoring laboratory.

There are two adult leaders with degrees in field biology and environmental science.  The program is for those with a strong interest in biology, natural history and ecology.  Many of the participants have been with Earthplace for many years and believe strongly in the Earthplace mission to learn about the natural world and actively work to protect it.

The competitive application program is limited to 30 children from 6th to 12th grade.  The fee for a year is $500 plus a $90 Family membership.

If you have any questions or are interested in enrolling your child in the program, please contact Becky Newman (203) 227-7253 x 107 or b.newman@earthplace.org.

Junior Staff Interest Form